Hi all - I’m looking to buy my first ever EV soon (probably a Model Y, Polestar 2, or BMW i4) and have quick question. I’m often gone from home for a few weeks (sometimes months) at a time, and I currently keep a trickle charger on my 12V battery the whole time (it’s a “smart” CTEK charger that doesn’t overcharge the battery). That charger recently broke after many years of use, so I’m wondering whether there’s any need to replace it.
I know the answer may differ across EV models, but in general: if I leave the car in a garage for a few weeks it’s plugged into the main EV charger whole time, is there any need for a trickle charger?
Any quick thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
I had a CTEK MXS 5.0 and a Noco Genius 10. The CTEK got too warm when charging 12v batteries so i eventualy took it back. IMO it’s always good to have one of these handy just in case. 12v lead acid batteries don’t like to be discharged for long (even a few days) before damage occurs.